PTI chief says attackers of women at rally appeared to be 'goons let loose by PML-N'

Imran Khan cancels Faisalabad rally, says attack on women was a pre-planned conspiracy

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan said on Wednesday that the suspects who attacked women at his party’s rally in Islamabad “appeared to be goons let loose by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)”. He also went on to the call the attack “pre-planned” and a “conspiracy”.

Imran further said he had lost all trust in the Punjab police for failing to protect women at the rally.

The PTI chief also announced the cancellation of the party’s upcoming anti-corruption rally in Faisalabad following reports of sexual harassment against women in attendance at the rally in the capital.



"I am deeply disturbed over the footage of PTI women attending the Islamabad jalsa being attacked as they were exiting the event," the PTI chairman said in a press statement on Wednesday.

Referring to PTI’s 126-day sit-in at D Chowk in 2014, Imran said all families and women in attendance remained unhurt as no such incidents had taken place at the time.

"Women have been an integral part of PTI rallies and jalsas, including the one in Mianwali where women came out for the first time for a political rally," he reiterated.

"Never before has PTI faced such an attack on its supporters. The recent pre-planned attacks are a conspiracy to undermine the central role of women in PTI," he said.



PM orders arrests of attackers

Taking notice of the attack on women during PTI's rally in Lahore, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed Punjab government to arrest all those involved.

Last month, the party formed a four-member committee to probe the issue of sexual harassment at the F-9 Park rally.

“A committee has been directed to submit a comprehensive report over the matter within seven days,” said a statement issued by PTI's central media department.

"Investigation will be completed within a week and strict action will be taken if anyone in PTI is found guilty at any level," the statement said.

According to the press release, the questionable role of Punjab police will also be examined.



Until the completion of the inquiry, the party is set to hold two public rallies on anti-corruption and the Panama Leaks revelations in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), where the party believes it can “trust the police to ensure safety its women and their family members attending the rallies”.

The first rally is likely to be held in Peshawar on May 9, followed by one in Bannu on May 11.

On April 24, while Imran was addressing the gathering, a stampede-like situation was witnessed after activists forced their way into a women’s section by breaching a security cordon.

After breaking into the women enclosure, the activists were found fondling, groping and sexually harassing women after separating them from their families or friends.